The game was barely five minutes old when tailback Eric Bieniemy fumbled at the Notre Dame 19. In the second quarter, Ken Culbertson missed a 23-yard field goal and Notre Dame foiled a fake field goal attempt on a fourth-and-goal on its three-yard line.

Billy Hackett's 27-yard field goal attempt just before the half was blocked by Colorado’s Garry Howe, leaving the game scoreless.

Notre Dame scored two quick touchdowns in the third quarter. Anthony Johnson's 2-yard touchdown run was followed by Raghib Ismail's 35-yard reverse for a touchdown after Ned Bolcar intercepted Buffalo quarterback Darian Hagan.

Hagan's 39-yard touchdown run cut it to 14-6 at the close of the third quarter, but Culbertson missed the PAT.

Notre Dame marched 82 yards in 17 plays, eating nearly nine minutes of clock time, to put the game out of reach. Johnson's second touchdown made it 21-6.